Crutch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. M. LAMP.

GRUTGH.

No. 467,468. Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

9 41 Fig.2. 9

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h I h E wwweogw v W M vWvl/toz (No Model.) 2 Sheets-fleet 2.

R. M. LAMP.

GRUTOH.

No. 467,468. Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

flaw/J UQWLLW' 8 a, 4. lfl alcd y UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ROBERT M. LAMP, OF MADISON, VISCONSIN.

CRUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,468, dated January 19, 1892. Application filed May 16, 1891- Serial No. 392,955; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. LAMP,-a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appliances for Orutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in appliances for the base of crutches; and the objects of my improvements are to provide for easily and effectually regulating at will the length of the projection of the spiked peg through the buffer or other terminal, thereby graduating the proportion of the hearing weight upon the spiked peg and terminal, respectively,whereby the crutch will be adapted to all the different characters of tracks'traversed by the wearer and to the use of different wearers, and to provide for the wearof the parts and for securely retaining the rubber buffer in its socket and giving to all the parts of the device solid vertical and lateral bearings. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view; Fig. 2, a vertical section on the line A B, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a bottom view; Fig. 4, a side elevation, partly broken away and in section; Fig. 5, a horizontal section on the line 1 2, Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a vertical section through line 5 6, Fig. 7, with the bolt 0 removed, showing the sleeve; and Fig. 7 a horizontal section through the line 3 4, Fig. 6, also showing the sleeve.

A standard forms all the stationary metallic parts of my device comprising the wood-socket and the buffer-socket cases, which are at the extremes, and the bearings for the bolt and nut.

to designates a wood-socket case at the summit of my device, and 9 its upward opening. The socket receives in its base the wood of the crutch, which wood has a socket in which the upper end of the sorew'bolt plays in vertical adjustment.

d designates an annular socket-case at the base of the standard, and it its downward opening. The case is tapped into ascrew throughout its inner vertical surface. The rubber buffer will bescrewed into the socket to the summit of the latter, the rubber yielding to the screw-thread. If thebuiferiscarriedloyainetal holder or any form of metallic terminal device is used, the contacting metal parts will be con-' structed suitably therefor. The base of the socket hasaplane horizon tal surface to fit upon a shoulder of the buffer or other device. An opening continues inward from each of said sockets to the slot for the nut hereinafter described. Such opening is formed into bearings Zj, the lower one of whichjis polygonal, fitting the polygonal screw-bolt hereinafter described, preventing rotary and allowing vertical motion in the bolt as it traverses a nut'having end bearings.

01 designates a slot contin ning from and lying between the bolt-bearings and opening laterally through the standard on two opposite sides. The slot receives the nut hereinafter described, which it exceeds in horizontal and equals in vertical extent, so that the nut will be readily manipulated and will have the end bearings necessary to its operation in. giving the bolt its vertical motion.

0 designates a steel octagonal screw-bolt,'or it may be of any polygonal form. It terminates at its downward end in the inverted pyramidal four-sided spike 7b. The spike may have any other number of sides or may be conical. Such bolt in its upper position extends from above the base of the wood in the upper socket to the base of the rubber buffer,

and in such position is screw-threaded from its summit to the base of the nut.

b designates a cylindrical nut occupying its described slot at and receiving the screwbolt 0. Midesignate a series of corrugations upon the surface of the nut for aiding in its digital manipulation, while ffdesignate holes for the temporary insertion of a lever for the same purpose. The nut is inwardly annular and tapped to the screw-bolt, upon which it turns either way, thus giving the bolt reciprocal vertical motion.

6 designates a cylindrical rubber buffer screwed into its said socket to the extent of the latter. The lower part of the buffer is of the diameter of the socket-case, and its upper part as far as it enters the case is reduced in diameter, forming a shoulder which rests on the edge of the case. The buffer has a central vertical opening to receive the screw-bolt. A metal appliance carrying the louder or entirely taking its place may be used in my device, the contacting metal parts being properly screw-threaded to fit each other.

Anotherconstruction of apart of my device is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 in connection with other figures,which are applicable to both constructions. p s 7 V m in Figs. 6 and 7 designates a sleeve consisting of a plate beneath the lower end. of the nut b and a boss projecting downward centrally from the lower surface of the plate to the buffer, the slot being made large enough to receive the plate and the nut andthe openingbelow the slot fitting the boss. flhe sleeve m has a central vertical opening through it, forming an octagonal bearing receiving and fitting the bolt 0. The bearing and the bolt may be of anye form, so that they have one plain "side. bolt cylindrical and a bearing annular, I excep asto 'a narrow plain sul face on one' s'ide of each, jvouldbe a construction. The sleeve will preferably be r t-med of amaterial difierent rom tan or both the bolt and 'nut to avoid friction an sticking in case of rust. The standard may beinade of malleable iron, Thefsleeveisin sei'ted by elevating the bolt and tempting the nut. This construction will b e icoinpara tively inexpensive in material and 'labojr and will admit of the replacing of the bear ngr r the bolt when worn and of the use of a Washer ivhen the nut or itsv bearings are Worn. The bolt is readily adjusted vertically by properly turning the hut, andthus elevating or depressing the bolt and spike-elevating for inside; use and soft tracks and depressing for hard, icy, or slippery tracksand the bolt is also thus adjusted to suit all requirements of the wearer or diiterent wearers.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a crutch-bottom, the combination of a standard having a slot, a polygonal bearing, a screw-socket, a nut in the slot bearing at the ends, a rubber plug inthe socket, and a polygonal-sci'ew-spur through the nut, bearing, andplug all said parts combined substantially as set forth.

2. In a crutch-bottom, the combination of a polygonal sc ew-spate ,nutwt h'ereon, and a v he spur in a jolly u he w g tsu antially h ivhereby the spur may be verti- "ean adjusted. y

A frutCh-bottoulfiQiriposedof astan' having slot, s1crew:socket',,fan intern 4dia i'pen raasl n. the Op n g a v'polygonal beari'ng, a 'utinthe slot. b ring on the standardand s p H eye at: eitheigend ja l'j bfi pl g in he. s ck a a pat rna 'sfcieu s pur through the nut, bearing, and plug, all said parts combined substantially as set forth.

ROBERT Mama Ir.

wail-a ses; I

F A K M1 WQ N J. E. WAKELEY.

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